Carbon Dioxide Infusions Could Be Used Against Asian Carp

Researchers say a process similar to making carbonated soda water could become a weapon in the fight against Asian carp.

In a recent study, scientists pumped recycled carbon dioxide gas into a research pond in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It was an experiment to see if bighead and silver carp would steer clear of areas with the carbonated water. And that's exactly what happened.

Michael Donaldson of the University of Illinois says the results are encouraging because many tools are needed to prevent Asian carp from migrating into the Great Lakes, where they could compete with native fish for food.

Jon Amberg of the U.S. Geological Survey says more tests are needed to determine whether carbon dioxide could be used to control movements of the invasive fish in a natural river.

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This month on 89.1 WEMU's First Friday Focus on the Environment, we we will explore a growing threat in the region - Asian Carp. We look into its growing threat of expanding territories to the world's greatest freshwater resource, the Great Lakes.

The Executive Director of the Great Lakes Commission, Tim Eder joins us to talk about the issue and what can be done to establish a long-term solution.

For the first time, Asian carp DNA has been detected in an inland Michigan river. Wildlife officials say they’ve turned up a single water sample from the Kalamazoo River that’s tested positive for carp DNA.